Letters: November 25

Increase fares

So the head of the Union for ECAT employees is in favor of the gas tax. Should we be surprised? How does their total benefit package and wages compare with others in the area? More money to spend means more strikes for increased benefits.

And, Commissioner Valentino in in favor so money in the county budget can be freed up. Tell us your plans for how you will spend that money. Give politicians more to spend, they will find a way to do so.

If more money is truly needed for operations let everyone share the pain, increase fares and increase the tax. However, since we are so dependent on the tourist trade, should we really be doing things that may negatively impact on the tourist?

Jerry SmithPensacola

Pensacola

VFW funds

Please tell me the recently announced award to the Veterans Memorial Park will be protected so it cannot be misused as previous funds were by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

I sincerely hope all necessary steps are being taken to assure recovery of those funds. They were not intended to fund a watering hole for VFW members. Someone needs to go to jail over that fiasco.

- Ken GuierPensacola

Pensacola

GOP errors

What you don't understand is that the people voted against Romney and the Republican Party.

Didn't you understand that in 2008? It may take two decades to forget George W. Bush. They would have voted for Rodney Dangerfield if he was running against Romney. I am an independent. I have my problems with Obama too, but vote for Romney and his plan for America?

I'm not that angry at Obama. The Republicans have lost their way, and are still drunk on the ruthless eight years of Bush. They still don't understand they have lost the majority of the American voters.

It's like a Democrat trying to win an election in Northwest Florida with a platform of abortion on demand and gay marriage. You have as much of a chance explaining that to the Northwest Florida Democratic party as you do explaining the errors of the national Republican party to the GOP.

Yet they have the arrogance of a ruling party. Listen to John Boehner. It will again be the GOP against the Dems, the South against the North and the conservatives against the liberals. I can remember when we were all just Americans.

- Mark ConteNavarre

Navarre

Watch polluters

The Nov. 11 article about Sava Varazo becoming the director of Emerald Coastkeeper tells me who runs the Coastkeepers. The article gave the impression that Mr. Varazo was an environmentalist because he had worked at DEP for 30 years. While there are many true environmentalists at DEP, none of those people usually make it very far up the chain of command.

Certainly not high enough to become "spokesman" like Mr. Verazo did. The spokesmen for DEP are those that follow the party line and are usually politically connected. The spokesmen are those who do not rock the boat and certainly do not point any fingers at big business.

Spokesmen usually deflect any criticisms away from major polluters like International Paper, Gulf Power, Ascend, Air Products, etc. These big guys have permits to legally pollute local waters and do not want anyone, including DEP or the Coastkeepers, to investigate any problems which they might be causing.

So the selection of Sava Varazo tells me the direction Coastkeepers will take - more nice projects and less pollution detection especially by the big polluters.

- Jacqueline LanePensacola

Pensacola

Lessons learned

To my neighbors and citizens of District 1:

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to run for ECUA District 1. Health issues slowed my efforts in this election but things are getting better now. I would like to thank each person who voted for me and everyone who voted on Nov. 6. It is an honor that you cast your vote for me to represent you in our district.

I have learned lessons throughout this process, which will serve me in the future. I would congratulate Ms. Campbell in her victory and wish her all the best in her tenure at ECUA. My hope is Escambia County can move forward now and become a thriving area with a bright future.

Best wishes to all our new and returning leaders, may each of you work to make our citizens proud.

- Tom BrameECUA District 1- No Party Affiliation

ECUA District 1- No Party Affiliation

Good news

With Obama's re-election, there is good news, good news, good news ... and bad news.

Good news No. 1 is that Obama's win should signal the complete demise of the Republican party ... as any party that cannot win against a group which reportedly raised the debt $6 trillion, had the gas prices doubled, added 20 million on food stamps, had unemployment average over 8 percent and continuing the Bush unconstitutional military action in Afghanistan ... that party should be gone ... good riddance!

Good news No. 2 is that the Democrat party should also disappear as the U.S. will go down the drain even faster ... and I believe China will stop financing 40 percent of our debt. Also good riddance!

Good news No. 3 is that those with half a brain or more may well have time to collect a year's basic food supply and water-storage containers. I suggest dry beans, rice, oatmeal, honey, water tubs and high-quality bleach to add to water.

Bad news is those who do not prepare will try to get your stuff ... unless you keep this a secret. Prepare to defend yourself and family.

- William JonesJay

Jay

Disastrous mistake

Democrats are lemmings. Not all, some are perpetual prisoners in Plato's Cave never to achieve reality. Others are just plain ignorant and finally, there are the depressingly few who are well-informed and likely embarrassed by the prior mentioned. Sadly of late a number of Republicans have shown some of these same tendencies. The primaries amply illustrated this.

To re-elect this failed and dangerous president is mind-boggling stupidity and I shudder to think of what he can do in the next four years. The electorate's failing to elect Mitt Romney, a brilliant and completely ethical business man with all the necessary executive credentials, including and especially the proven ability to work with Democrats, will prove to be a disastrous mistake. How on earth did people expect Obama with no worthwhile experience of any kind, to handle responsibly, the most important and powerful office on the planet? Regrettably, so far he has proved he cannot.

The possibility of one or more Supreme Court justices retiring and Obama choosing the replacement is a most depressing thought and would further stress the Constitution.

Wake up America it is almost too late.

- Peter DanielsGulf Breeze

Gulf Breeze

Gimme society

On Nov. 6, Americans had the clearest choices between two different directions for this country. I'm scared to death of the decision a majority of voters just made.

In state after state, Democrats won by promising that government would do something for the people hearing their message: Subsidize their health-care, pay for their prescriptions, finance their schooling, and guarantee their retirement. The list goes on and on.

It's the 21st century version of promising a chicken in every pot and, let's face it, it worked.

What happens when a majority of voters are told they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury, if they'll only put the right people in charge? We now know the answer: They'll stand in line for hours and vote for Santa Claus to keep the goodies coming.

It's going to be awfully hard to outwork, outspend and outvote them. The silent majority is being replaced by a "gimme" society. What's going to prevent them from dragging this country over a fiscal cliff - and us along with them?

Look in the mirror, Americans. You have just voted for Spain and Greece as our destiny. Thanks a lot.

- Kenny WorthingtonPensacola

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Letters: November 25

So the head of the Union for ECAT employees is in favor of the gas tax. Should we be surprised? How does their total benefit package and wages compare with others in the area? More money to spend